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Debate over gun control laws continues

President Barack Obama said he plans to bypass Congress and use his executive power to tighten gun laws. The president met with the attorney general and others Monday to discuss the legality of his plans. At least one constitutional law expert believe Obama has the power to at least move forward with his plan.

President Barack Obama said he plans to bypass Congress and use his executive power to tighten gun laws. The president met with the attorney general and others Monday to discuss the legality of his plans. At least one constitutional law expert believe Obama has the power to at least move forward with his plan.

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Updated: 11:15 AM EST Jan 5, 2016

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WEBVTT TODAY TO DISCUSS THE LEGALITY OF HIS PLANS. WE SPOKE WITH A LOCAL CONSTITUTIONAL LAW EXPERT AND THOSE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE. 11 NEWS REPORER KAI REED JOINS US WITH DETAILS. KAI? REPORTER: A LOT OF THE FOCUS IS ON THE SO-CALLED GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE. SPECIFICALLY WHO CAN SELL GUNS, WHERE, AND WHAT KIND OF GUIDELINES THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW. SOME DETAILS ARE ALREADY COMING OUT AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENTS OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. REPORTER AMONG OTHER : INITIATIVES, THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO CLOSE THE SO-CALLED GUN-SHOW LOOPHOLE. TO MAKE SURE CRIMINALS, PEOPLE WHO ARE MENTALLY UNSTABLE, AND THOSE WHO COULD POSE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET A GUN. REPORTER RIGHT NOW, ONLY : FEDERALLY LICENSED GUN DEALERS HAVE TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON BUYERS, BUT, LATE MONDAY, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IT'S ISSUING UPDATED GUIDANCE. SAYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN CONSIDER SOMEONE A GUN DEALER REGARDLESS OF WHERE GUNS ARE SOLD, OR IF THE SALE IS BETWEEN PRIVATE CITIZENS. HE ABSOLUTELY CAN DO IT. REPORTER BYRON WARNKEN IS A : CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE. HE CAN SAY YOU HAVE TO REGISTER OR YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A WAITING PERIOD, I MEAN HE COULD DO A BUNCH OF THINGS THAT COULD SORT OF SLOW DOWN THIS UNCONTROLLED FLOW OF GUNS. REPORTER THE WHITE HOUSE ALSO : ANNOUNCED THAT THE FBI WILL HIRE 230 MORE EXAMINERS TO PROCESS BACKGROUND CHECKS. ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY NUMBERS FROM STATE POLICE, MORE THAN 38,000 PEOPLE FILLED OUT GUN PURCHASE APPLICATIONS IN MARYLAND IN 2015. SOME CUSTOMERS AT HORST AND MC-CANN RANGE IN BEL-AIR TOLD 11 NEWS THEY THINK THE PRESIDENT'S MOVE TO BY-PASS CONGRESS, GOES TOO FAR. I THINK IT'S EXTREME. I THINK IF WE SPENT MORE TIME ENFORCING LAWS WE HAVE NOW WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE ISSUES WE HAVE. I THINK HE'S GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. I SEE NOTHING THAT I AM AWARE OF THAT WOULD PRECLUDE HIM FROM EXECUTIVE ACTION FROM DOING THIS. OF COURSE, THERE WOULD BE NOTHING TO STOP CONGRESS FROM UNDOING WHAT HE ALREADY DID, I JUST DON'T THINK CONGRESS CAN DO THAT AS LONG AS HE HAS THE VETO PEN. REPORTER I MENTIONED THAT THE : WHITE HOUSE SAID THAT THE FBI IS HIRING MORE BACKGROUND CHECK

Debate over gun control laws continues

President Barack Obama said he plans to bypass Congress and use his executive power to tighten gun laws. The president met with the attorney general and others Monday to discuss the legality of his plans. At least one constitutional law expert believe Obama has the power to at least move forward with his plan.